Rising star Vitek gets Cech backing before next move

Radek Vitek won three player of the year awards at Bristol City [Getty Images]

Legendary Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has hailed the progress of fellow countryman Radek Vitek and urged the youngster to ensure he carries on playing next season.

Vitek, 22, had an outstanding campaign on loan at Bristol City.

The Manchester United youngster scooped the Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year prizes for his performances with the Championship club.

Now he needs to find out United's plans for him.

Just before joining Bristol City, Vitek signed a new contract at Old Trafford committing him to United until 2028.

That was before Senne Lammens came in from Royal Antwerp to make the number one spot his own.

Vitek has already made it clear he has no interest in sitting on the bench anywhere after two and a half seasons of playing regular and the Czech Republic's best ever goalkeeper feels that is key to his progress.

"It's important to play," Cech told BBC Sport.

"Of course, there are situations where sometimes you know that you have a big chance to come back and fight for your position. That's a different thing.

"But as it stands at United, Lammens has done really well. I'm sure he [Vitek] will want to go somewhere and continue playing."

Cech has worked with Vitek and Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

He feels the youngster, who left the Czech Republic to join United as a teenager and had had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Austrian outfit Blau-Weiss Linz prior to his Bristol City move, has the desire needed to make the most of his ability.

"It's great to see him progress because playing for the Under-21s with United is one thing, but then he played men's football in Austria, which went really well for him, then he came back to with Bristol City and did well there," Cech said.